Monday, February 4, 2019   
 
WWII scholar brings D-Day discussions to Mississippi State
Mississippi State will host military historian and author Stephen A. Bourque this week for a detailed discussion of his recent book, "Beyond the Beach," highlighting the impacts of Allied bombings on French cities before and during the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944. The 3:30 p.m. free, public event on Wednesday, Feb. 6 will be held in the Grisham Room of Mitchell Memorial Library. Bourque is professor emeritus of military history at the School of Advanced Military Studies in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1992 after 20 years of service, having earned a Bronze Star during Operation Desert Storm. "His conclusions add to, as well as challenge, our understanding of the Allied war effort in France, particularly during the D-Day campaign," said Mary Kathryn Barbier, MSU history professor and organizer of Bourque's campus tour.
 
MSU Riley Center, Mississippi Children's Museum-Meridian partner for upcoming family series presentation
Before becoming engaged with the puppetry and other scenic effects of the upcoming Enchantment Theatre Company presentation "The Phantom Tollbooth" at the MSU Riley Center, families attending the performance will have the opportunity to engage in pre-show activities hosted by the Mississippi Children's Museum-Meridian. The Family Series show "The Phantom Tollbooth," will be presented Feb. 15 at the downtown Meridian education and performing arts center. Pre-show activities will begin at 6 p.m., with the show beginning at 7 p.m. "This is our second year partnering with the MSU Riley Center and their Family Series; it has been a great fit for the Meridian campus before we're operational," Elizabeth Wilson, executive director of the Mississippi Children's Museum-Meridian said.
 
Animal hospital hosts Mississippi State vet students
Working out of the Mississippi State University Mobile Veterinary Clinic and under the guidance of experienced high-volume spay/neuter surgeons of Horn Lake Animal Hospital, veterinary students performed spay/neuter surgeries on pets at the Horn Lake Animal Shelter. The Mississippi State University students and faculty were hosted by the City of Horn Lake and Horn Lake Animal Hospital. They were scheduled to spay and neuter between 25-40 dogs and cats. The Mississippi State University Shelter Medicine Program was started in 2007 by Dr. Philip Bushby for Mississippi State University students to travel to local shelters across Mississippi to provide spay and neuter surgeries to shelter pets. This program gives the students much-needed surgery experience and allows the shelters to save on veterinary costs. Since 2007, the program has treated over 50,000 pets at no charge to Mississippi animal shelters.
 
Jembe Den and the powerful language of African drumming
In western culture, think of drumming and a John Bonham, Dave Grohl or even Buddy Rich may come to mind. But imagine a culture where entertainment isn't the purpose, where drums hold deeper symbolic and historical meaning. Envision a continent where drums are a language of life, with distinct rhythms that denote the journey from beginning to end -- births, coming of age, marriage, the naming of a baby, a full moon, a harvest. The drums of Africa tell community stories, call people together, connect. That is the message of Jembe Den. The percussion ensemble is led by Bob Damm, professor of music and director of Music Education Partnerships at Mississippi State. But it is several of his private students who make up this group focused on traditional rhythms of West Africa. Each rhythm has a name and function. One might have been played for farmers as they worked in the fields, another would welcome village women returning from a fishing trip. "We're not just playing empty rhythms that have no cultural meaning," said Damm. "We know what these rhythms mean."
 
MSU Idea Shop gets program coordinator
The Mississippi State University Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach recently named Michael Lane, who graduated from MSU in December 2018 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, as program coordinator for MSU's new Idea Shop. The University launched the Idea Shop (114 E. Main St., Starkville), as a combination retail space and workshop in late 2018. The retail space, which is in the front of the shop, offers locally made products such as longboard-type skateboards from EM-Boards, coffee from jitterbean's coffee and ceramics by Bonnie Brumley. The back houses a workshop space used for prototyping new products, and features equipment such as 3D printers. The Idea Shop houses both the Turner A. Wingo Maker Studio and the Retail Product Accelerator, which MSU's College of Business and School of Human Sciences operate.
 
Teen suspect charged after Highway 12 chase
A Starkville teenager with a criminal record is facing new charges after police say he led officers on a high-speed chase Saturday night in a stolen vehicle and tried to flee on foot by running into a Dollar General store on Stark Road. According to Oktibbeha County Jail records, Javante Hendrix is charged with felony fleeing of law enforcement and felony grand larceny. Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department Captain of Operations Brett Watson confirmed Hendrix was the driver of the stolen vehicle. No one was injured in the chase. Watson said bond for Hendrix will likely be set Monday. The chase began Saturday night when deputies spotted the stolen vehicle, which did not stop when signaled by police, before the driver continued to run from deputies down Highway 12.
 
Why rural broadband could take years to implement
Electric power cooperatives are now allowed to offer broadband internet to their customers, but it could take years before individual houses are hooked onto the internet. And some areas might never receive the service because of the high costs of creating the infrastructure needed to bring high-speed internet to rural areas. "If there was easy money to be made, then the people who do that for a living would be doing it," said Jon Turner, manager of marketing and public relations for Four-County Electric Power Association. "It's a very skinny margin." Four-County EPA serves 47,000 customers in all or parts of nine counties. Their estimated price tag is as much as $150 million. "People think there is a magic switch we can flip now that the law was passed," Turner said. "I have actually had people call and ask me when they would be getting their internet. I had to burst their bubble and tell them that if we do proceed, it's going to be a five- to 10-year rollout. It will be a long and measured process."
 
Analysis: Budget cuts have long-term effect on libraries
Mississippi public libraries are still feeling the sting of state budget cuts that happened years ago. Some library leaders say they have had to trim services such as summer reading programs for children. Some have cut back on community outreach programs, such as using vans that take reading materials to nursing homes. Others are having a hard time building meager collections of books and other materials or keeping enough employees. "Every single library in this state has suffered," said Sarah Crisler-Ruskey, director of the Harrison County Library System. She was with several other library directors and library boosters who were at the state Capitol last week, carrying oversized paper replicas of pennies and asking lawmakers for a modest budget boost.
 
Candidates for lieutenant governor begin year with cash in the bank
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has cash on hand of $2.6 million as he begins his quest for the open seat of lieutenant governor. His opponent, state Rep. Jay Hughes of Oxford, is not beginning the year empty-handed. Hughes, a first term Democrat, has $437,461 on hand, according to campaign finance reports filed Thursday with the Secretary of State's office detailing expenditures and contributions for 2018. The Republican Hosemann, who is in his third term as secretary of state, raised $838,896 during the year and spent $232,378. Hughes raised $965,170, though $835,000 of that came from his personal funds and he spent $527,709. Hosemann announced his campaign this year -- in January -- while Hughes announced in May that he was running for lieutenant governor.
 
Lt. governor candidate Jay Hughes sidesteps campaign finance reform law he pushed for in 2017
Mississippi lieutenant governor candidate Jay Hughes filed a campaign finance report Thursday that appeared to violate a reform law he pushed for two years ago. The Democratic state representative's report showed 14 payments totaling more than $100,000 to a credit card company, UBS Visa. But the form did not itemize what had been paid for using the credit card or cards --- a central requirement of the campaign finance reform bill that passed the Legislature in 2017 and took effect last year. The reform came after an investigative series by The Clarion Ledger, "Public Office/Private Gain," showed how the state's lax enforcement of campaign finance laws has created a tax-free second income for many Mississippi politicians, mostly funded by special interests. Before, Mississippi politicians often used credit cards to make purchases and sidestep requirements to report individual expenditures. They only reported the lump-sum payment to the credit card company.
 
State Senate bills seek to allow religious, philosophical exemptions for vaccinating children
Two bills in the state Senate -- SB 2255 and SB 2398 -- are seeking to allow parents to get exemptions from the state's vaccination requirements to attend Mississippi schools. The bills look to allow the exemptions for philosophical or religious reasons. Currently medical exemptions are the only ones legally allowed. Senators Joey Fillingane (R-Sumrall) and Angela Burks Hill (R-Picayune) introduced the respective bills. Thomas Dobbs, a health officer with the Mississippi Department of Health, said state law currently only allows medical exemptions from vaccinations, as recommended by Mississippi licensed physicians. As such, Mississippi boasts the highest vaccination rate in the country, Dobbs said, with about 99.4 percent of school-age children vaccinated. Dobbs said that high vaccination rate is important for protecting those who cannot be vaccinated and is like "clearing the debris to prevent wildfires" in preventing outbreaks of certain diseases. He pointed to Washington, which is currently under a declared health emergency from a measles outbreak that has, thus far, led to 41 confirmed cases, according to the Washington State Department of Health.
 
Effort underway to expand asset forfeiture laws
A candidate for Mississippi attorney general wants to revive a now-lapsed state statute that allowed law enforcement to seize some private property without mandatory court oversight. Rep. Mark Baker, R-Brandon, has introduced legislation that would expand civil asset forfeiture, a procedure that allows law enforcement to take virtually any property that was allegedly used for or obtained through criminal activity. Specifically, Baker wants to revive a procedure called administrative forfeiture, which expired last July. Gov. Phil Bryant has endorsed Baker's bill, but its prospects are uncertain. If the bill doesn't receive a committee vote by Tuesday, it will be dead for further consideration. The proposed legislation, House Bill 1104, has been referred to the Judiciary A committee, which Baker chairs. According to Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson, the state sheriffs' association informed its members Friday morning that the bill won't clear committee.
 
'Parker's Law' would punish drug dealers for death or injuries
In August 2014, Skylar O'Kelly sold or gave his friend Parker Rodenbaugh two "hits" of 25B-NBOMe, a controlled substance referred to as "synthetic LSD." A few hours later, Rodenbaugh, 22, a Mississippi State University student, died from the toxic effects of the drug. O'Kelly was indicted for trafficking a controlled substance and depraved-heart murder. Following a jury trial in the Oktibbeha County Circuit Court, O'Kelly was convicted on both counts and sentenced to concurrent terms of 10 years for trafficking and 20 for second- degree murder. On appeal, the Mississippi Court of Appeals last year upheld O'Kelly's drug trafficking conviction but threw out the second-degree murder conviction. The court said there wasn't sufficient evidence to convict O'Kelly of murder. The case was the first in Mississippi to test whether a drug dealer could be convicted of murder after a user dies from drugs the dealer supplied. House Bill 867, known as Parker's Law, would add penalties up to life in prison for a dealer if a user dies or receives serious injuries after consuming heroin or fentanyl, a synthetic opioid.
 
Columbus 2-percent bill awaits governor's signature
A long-debated 2-percent restaurant sales tax is a stroke of a pen away from returning to Columbus. The Mississippi Senate approved the tax bill by a 49-3 vote on Thursday, sending it to Gov. Phil Bryant's desk to be signed into law. The House gave its approval with a 91-6 vote on Jan. 21. The ease with which the Legislature handled the 2-percent tax issue this year starkly contrasts from what happened last year, when a debate between Rep. Jeff Smith and Sen. Chuck Younger, both Lowndes County Republicans, killed the effort to renew a county-wide tax that had been on the books since the 1980s. It expired on June 30. Younger told The Dispatch on Thursday that if the governor signs the bill this month, it could go into effect by March 1 and will be effective through June 30, 2023. "I'm ... glad it passed," Younger said. "And I don't think the governor will have any trouble signing it. So I think we're all looking forward to that." The new restaurant sales tax will only be collected in the Columbus city limits at businesses where annual prepared food and beverage sales are at least $100,000.
 
Rep. Becky Currie's mental health bill lives again
A bill that would establish mental health courts throughout the state made it out of committee Thursday, setting it up for a vote on the House floor next week. A bill that would commit $1.8 million to fund the court system remains in the Appropriations committee. Rep. Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven, has pushed for the creation of mental health courts for at least four years. She envisions a court system for the mentally ill that operates similarly to drug court. "I've done a lot of work with the mentally ill and making sure they don't stay in our jails and instead are going straight to the crisis centers. It has worked well in Brookhaven so far and other states doing this save millions. Just like our drug court, we would set up a mental health court," she said previously about the bill. The system would be set up through regional mental health centers and would have requirements like ensuring offenders are taking their medicine and following up with all appointments and treatments.
 
Rep. Robert Foster introduces abortion bill
Legislatures in New York and Virginia have this year considered taking radical steps in recent weeks on the issue of abortion. A measure now in a Mississippi House committee and introduced by a DeSoto County legislator would take a 180-degree turn away from those measures. Known as the Mississippi Heartbeat Abortion Ban bill, state Rep. Robert Foster (R-Hernando), also a candidate for his party's nomination for governor, said Friday the bill that he has authored would do the opposite. "It will ban any abortion after a heartbeat is detected on an unborn child unless the mother's life is at risk," Foster said by phone Friday. The bill is now in the Judiciary A Committee but Foster said it faces a deadline that is coming up soon. "We need people to be aware that it is sitting in committee and I believe the deadline is early next week for it to come out of committee," Foster said. "Whatever side of the issue people are on, it is a serious issue and worth discussion."
 
Mississippi Immigrant Rights Group Calls for Action from Lawmakers
Yitzel abruptly stopped speaking as she sobbed from behind a podium in the Mississippi Capitol on Wednesday. Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance Director Bill Chandler put his hand on her shoulder. Yitzel, a member of MIRA, was thanking the group and its supporters for helping her and her mother, Teresa, in their fight for an easier life for undocumented immigrants living in Mississippi. For people like them, she said, it is often difficult to get a job, and even when they do, they cannot get medical insurance through their work. The mother and daughter duo, whose last names MIRA declined to provide, were among multiple members and supporters of MIRA holding a rally to urge lawmakers to pass legislation to make life better for the state's documented and undocumented immigrants. Rep. Kathy Sykes, D-Jackson, introduced House Bill 403 to make it easier for immigrants to obtain a driver's license by revising those requirements and creating a certificate for driving.
 
National Parks struggle with up to $11 million in revenue loss from shutdown
An internal email sent to National Park Service (NPS) staff reveals for the first time that the parks lost between $10 million and $11 million during the 35-day partial government shutdown, which left a number of popular parks open but furloughed most rangers and staff. The email strongly suggests the shutdown and its aftermath had a detrimental effect on the morale of park staff, and that lawyers are looking into whether it was legal for the Department of Interior to use "rec fees" to pay for maintenance and trash collection while parks such as Joshua Tree in California were kept open. Parks resumed operations this past week, and the email makes clear the Park Service is scrambling to keep up morale while catching up on lost time. "Our work has become increasingly stressful. For some, the shutdown was a much-needed relief, for others the shutdown added a new dimension of stress, anxiety, anger," NPS regional fee manager Cindy David told Pacific West Region staff in an emailed two-part document Friday.
 
Nora Miller inaugurated as MUW's 15th president
The inauguration of any university president is, by nature, a historic event. But when Nora Miller was inaugurated as the 15th president of Mississippi University for Women Friday before a gathering of 1,200 at The W's Rent Auditorium, it marked another historic milestone in the university's 135-year history. In a 75-minute ceremony, Miller (class of 1983) officially became the first MUW alumnus to assume the president's post. "Today marks an important milestone in the history of this institution," said Shane Hooper, board president for the State Institutions of Higher Learning, in his opening greeting to the audience. "Nora Miller is an example of all the innovations of this institution that are fortified by its traditions. As an alumna, and as someone with almost two decades of experience at this institution, Nora Miller brings a sense of shared experience to this position. We have every confidence in her leadership."
 
MUW celebrates inauguration of new president
History was made Friday morning at Mississippi University for Women with the inauguration of the school's 15th president. Nora Miller is the first alumna to hold the position. She was named acting president in March 2018 after previous president, Jim Borsig, announced he would be stepping down in June. The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning named her president in September. "I am so happy. I love this institution," she said. "I came here 40 years ago as a student. I've been working here for 17 years and I just think this is the greatest place in the world. It's really an honor to be chosen to lead this institution."
 
Adam Minichino takes position at MUW
Adam Minichino, longtime sports editor for The Dispatch, has accepted a communications specialist position at Mississippi University for Women's Public Affairs office. His last day with The Dispatch will be Wednesday, and he will begin his new role at The W the following day. Minichino joined The Dispatch staff as sports editor in June 2008. In addition to leading award-winning sports staffs, he has amassed plenty of his own writing accolades from the Mississippi Press Association during his tenure. Scott Walters, who has worked under Minichino for eight years, is taking the sports editor reins. Minichino's journalism career spans more than two decades, beginning with his graduation from the University of Connecticut in 1992. He "discovered" women's basketball covering Geno Auriemma's legendary Huskies programs as an undergraduate for the campus newspaper, and he worked stints as sports editor, news editor and designer at the weekly Cheshire Herald in Connecticut after college.
 
Wearable technologies theme of II+C Symposium at MUW
Do you want to learn how to discuss your health with your doctor? Do you want to know more about technology that can help put you on a healthy path? What technology is available to help streamline your health at home? These questions and more will be answered at the third annual II+C Symposium set for Feb. 7-8 on the campus of Mississippi University for Women in Rent Auditorium, Whitfield Hall. This year's symposium theme is "Revolutionizing Healthcare: Wearable Technologies, Apps and Beyond" and will feature internationally-known researchers and medical professionals who will discuss their work and the latest developments. Dr. Doris A. Taylor, a 1977 alumna and director of Regenerative Medicine Research at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, Texas, will facilitate the event, which opens Thursday evening at 7 p.m. with the keynote speaker Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes. Taylor has worked in the field of cardiovascular regenerative medicine since its inception and is widely recognized for several major breakthroughs in cardiac repair and replacement. A Fellow of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, she was honored with the 4th Madrid Award for Excellence in Basic and Preclinical Cardiovascular Regenerative Research in 2017.
 
Larry Sparks begins tenure as Ole Miss' interim chancellor
It has been a busy three months for the University of Mississippi. On Nov. 9 Jeffrey Vitter announced his resignation as chancellor, ending his tenure that lasted a little over three years. The resignation took effect last month and on Jan. 4 Larry Sparks, Ole Miss' Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, took over as the interim chancellor. The first month on the job for Sparks has been about keeping the ship going in the right direction and getting acclimated to his new role on campus. "I would say it's been exciting," Sparks said of the transition. "It's been interesting. I am doing my best to be as proactive as possible in terms of meeting individuals, both internal and external, in answering questions in term of expectations because it is an interim period. We don't want the institution to stand idle, if you will, during the period."
 
Meridian Community College student government association work begins
With the goal of improving leadership opportunities for students, Meridian Community College is on its way in creating a new student government association by naming Beth Calderon as the advisor.A Spanish instructor at the College for 21 years, Calderon will have added duties as the new advisor of this organization, and she's looking forward to the task."This is all new and very exciting to see where it is going to take us," Calderon said.The idea that's now coming to fruition began as a project for the College's Phi Theta Kappa chapter. That, in turn, led to a grant from AT&T given in the fall of 2018 to support the student government association. MCC President Thomas Huebner said college officials were approached by AT&T and specifically C.D. Smith, regional director of AT&T Mississippi. In brainstorming about how best to use the funds, "the first thing we thought about was how we can improve opportunity in leadership for our students," he said. So, the idea of forming a student government association emerged.
 
LSU student engineers work to revamp blighted lots in the Lower 9th Ward
A local nonprofit organization is teaming up with Louisiana State University students to revamp blighted properties in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans to make those areas more sustainable. Six seniors from LSU's Civil and Environmental Engineering program are working with activist group A Community Voice to install plants and bioswales on the abandoned lots, according to an LSU profile on the Blight to Bioswales project. This is the first time the engineering school team has worked with a community organization, but the LSU coordinator for the program has worked on blighted projects in New Orleans before, LSU stated. "There is blight across New Orleans from people not being able to return home after Katrina," LSU program coordinator John Pardue said in the article. The student team deals with empty lots covered in unkempt grass, and other lots have dilapidated homes containing rodents. The students at the start of the project met with a city councilwoman who presented them with a map showing 2,000 blighted lots in the Lower 9th Ward, LSU stated. Pardue told LSU they use a tax website for "the tough part" of finding the lot owners to get permission for the work.
 
As U. of Florida aims for Top 5, here are reasons why
At the last University of Florida board meeting in December, President Kent Fuchs restated his goal for UF to climb into the top five of the U.S. News and World Report public university rankings. "We have so much momentum right now," Fuchs told the board. "You don't want to see that slow down." UF received state support to help move up from eight in the most recent rankings, including $52 million to add 500 new faculty. This legislative session, state Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, will try to secure funding toward UF's planned new $55 million music school, to be built on the southeast corner of University Avenue and 13th Street. By reducing its student-to-faculty ratio to 16-to-1 and upgrading academic facilities, UF can move closer to achieving a top five ranking when the next set of rankings comes out in September. It has to leapfrog at least two schools: Georgia Tech and University of California-Irvine. Why the bother? Simply bragging rights? How does a lofty perch benefit the Gainesville campus, the city or the state of Florida? Thomas Toch, the director of FutureEd at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, said UF reaching the top five would enhance its national reputation, allowing the school to attract more research dollars and applications.
 
Cutting edge UGA water tunnel aids engineering research
A newly installed 35-foot water tunnel at the University of Georgia's College of Engineering will help researchers develop new methods of generating electricity and more efficient space and marine vehicles like rockets and drones. Construction of the massive device began in 2016, and the water tunnel took about a year-and-a-half to complete. Built by Lewis Fortner, manager of UGA's Instrument Shop, the stainless-steel tunnel can hold about 2,800 gallons of water. "What the water tunnel allows us to do is to put submerged structures in high-speed flow," said Ben Davis, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering. "These are flexible structures that will vibrate in response to the flow going past them." These experiments can help researchers discover new ways to build lighter rockets for space exploration, build marine vehicles that capture energy, and convert high-speed water flow into electricity and power other devices.
 
UGA grad student says he's under investigation for comments about race now that donors involved
The University of Georgia says it is "vigorously exploring all available legal options" regarding a black graduate student's provocative comments about race. That the university is investigating the student's comments at all has drawn criticism from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education and other scholars. They object, in part, because the student's comments were brought to light by a political activist who urged donors to stop supporting Georgia after it initially declared the speech protected. The student, Irami Osei-Frimpong, a Ph.D. candidate in philosophy, said Sunday that he'd just learned that the university is not only looking into his comments but also disclosure issues on his Ph.D. program application. A notice from the Office of Student Conduct cites his alleged failure to disclose that he'd previously attended the University of Chicago and had been arrested for trespassing.
 
Horror genre has long reflected shifting racial climate, says Texas A&M VP in new documentary
At 6:01 p.m. on April 4, 1968, the sound of a bullet rang out at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. The foremost leader of the national movement for civil rights crumpled to the ground. More than 1,000 miles northeast of the balcony on which Jesse Jackson, Ralph Abernathy and others stood near the dying Martin Luther King Jr. and famously pointed toward where they heard the shot fired from, author and poet Maya Angelou prepared a meal for her 40th birthday dinner. The party, with a guest list of Harlem intellectuals that included her close friend James Baldwin, would ultimately never happen as the city -- and the world -- plunged into grief and anger. On the day King was killed and Angelou turned 40, filmmaker George Romero drove toward New York City with a ready-for-distribution cut of Night of the Living Dead, the zombie film starring a black male lead that Texas A&M University's chief diversity officer said was the movie that most shaped her childhood and, ultimately, her career. "Romero has the film in the trunk of his car and he's driving it from Pittsburgh to New York. He's filmed Night in the Pittsburgh area, and on the day Dr. King is assassinated, they have to know how important what they have in the trunk of their car is in that moment," Robin R. Means Coleman, Texas A&M vice president and associate provost for diversity, said this week.
 
Shuttle company disputes reason for U. of Missouri closure
The owner of the shuttle company blamed for the late decision Wednesday to close the University of Missouri disputed that claim Friday, saying that campus officials were trying to cover for a blown call. Doug Dickherber, owner of Greenway Shuttles, said 12 of his 17 buses were ready to roll Wednesday morning and those that succumbed to the minus 6 degree temperatures were being repaired in time to reach campus by 9 a.m. Greenway Shuttles provides transportation to about 75 percent of off-campus housing. MU issued a news release at 8:12 a.m. Wednesday that classes were canceled for the day. Greenway provides shuttle services on nearly two dozen campuses in all, including eight in the areas hit by the frigid air that blew in Tuesday night. Seven of those campuses closed, Dickherber said, and only MU announced it intended to remain open. "I think Mizzou decided it was really stupid to be open that morning and just decided to close," Dickherber said.
 
When Colleges Seek Diversity Through Photoshop
The new billboard for York College of Pennsylvania features a typical headline for admissions marketing: "Envision the Possibilities at York College." Eight students smile. One is African American, one is Asian American and one woman (with her hair covered) appears to be Muslim. But in the last week, the billboard turned from a source of pride to one of controversy. The original photograph shot for the billboard featured two white students who were replaced with two students who reflected diversity. York is hardly the first college to be caught using Photoshop to project diversity. After embarrassing incidents at two universities in 2000, many admissions marketing leaders vowed to be more careful. (Perhaps too much time has passed since those images prompted debate on the practice.) Using Photoshop to change images raises obvious ethical issues. But before everyone criticizes only York or Wisconsin, consider research that found most colleges (presumably by inviting particular students to pose for photographs) project more diversity in admissions viewbooks than their campuses actually have.
 
When Kenneth Starr Gives the Keynote at a Higher Ed Conference
By many accounts, Kenneth W. Starr is a big get as a keynote speaker for any event. That's how a lot of people felt here this weekend at Stetson University's annual Higher Education Law and Policy Conference. To some, however, Starr's presence at a conference focused largely on Title IX and campus sexual misconduct was problematic. On Sunday, Starr spoke to about 150 people during a lunchtime conversation moderated by John R. Kroger, a former president of Reed College. Starr reflected on his tumultuous time at the helm of Baylor University, where a vast sexual-assault scandal broke open in 2015 and 2016. He also discussed his views on the evolving landscape surrounding Title IX, the federal gender-equity law, and on the authority of government agencies. No matter what Starr talked about, his keynote was going to attract attention. Given that he also led the investigation that prompted President Bill Clinton's impeachment, he's the kind of person everyone has an opinion about.
 
Eastern Virginia Medical School officials and alumni react to racist yearbook photo
Eastern Virginia Medical School alumni began defending their school -- and in some cases the photo from the 1984 yearbook page of Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam that showed a man in blackface and another person in a Ku Klux Klan hood. On Friday the governor apologized for being in the photo, but on Saturday he said he wouldn't resign and that he doesn't believe it is him in the photo, as he initially thought. The Norfolk school, which has over 10,000 alumni, was founded in 1973. Richard V. Homan, the school's president, provost and dean of the school of medicine, issued a statement Saturday saying the school cannot change the events of the past but can use it as a reminder of the "importance of our ongoing work toward diversity and inclusion." "We share the outrage, alarm and sadness voiced by our alumni, the press and many on social media regarding the picture published in the 1984 student yearbook," he said in the statement. Many alumni reacting to the news on the Facebook post said the school shouldn't be judged on this incident.
 
Technology requires careful balance for teens, tweens
Angela Farmer, an assistant professor of educational leadership at Mississippi State, writes: In today's fast-paced world, filled with technology assistance at every turn, it is easy to understand how teens and tweens (those not quite teens) can become inundated with the plethora of apps, devices and social media outlets. Unfortunately, there are too many cases in which these options begin to dominate the landscape. Where the cell phone once was used as a great way to be able to connect with friends and family when away from home, it has become an extra appendage, apart from which few are able to separate for even a few hours. The need to maintain an almost constant virtual attachment to one's social media, friends, and related apps has created a condition whereby teens and tweens can literally experience a stress-related withdrawal without the ability to check-in.
 
What a disappointing tax season
Syndicated columnist Bill Crawford of Meridian writes: Started your tax return yet? I have, and it's so disappointing. I had looked forward to the simpler, easier tax filing promised by President Donald Trump's tax cuts. Take the increased standard deduction and forget all that work to compile medical and dental expenses, taxes paid, interest paid, charitable contributions, and so on. This was going to be a breeze. Not. Just realized I still have to gather up all that detail for my Mississippi tax return. Blah! The other disappointment was my federal taxes on personal income are about the same as last year. No big tax cut there. The only thing making a difference for me this year will be the 20-percent tax cut on qualified business income. My little bit of business income will save me a few tax dollars.
 
Jim Hood could win the governor's race and not be seated, or so says the state Constitution
Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison writes: Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood could win the most votes on Nov. 5 for the office of governor and never get to spend one night in the Governor's Mansion thanks to a Republican-controlled Mississippi House of Representatives. Imagine a scenario where Hood garners 48 percent of the vote and Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves gets 47.7 percent. In that scenario, the election for governor could be decided by the 122 members of the Mississippi House of Representatives. Now imagine a scenario where the political eyes of the nation -- the cable news channels and others -- are focused on Mississippi and its House of Representatives. Such a scenario is not that far-fetched.
 
5G technology presents opportunities for Mississippi
Senator Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, writes: The fifth generation of high-speed wireless networks, commonly known as 5G, is expected to increase data speeds up to 100 times faster than today's mobile technology. This improvement will not only make our phones and internet-connected products run faster, but will also revolutionize the way information is shared between people, businesses and devices. ...Data delivered over wireless networks can also be a game-changer for emergency response and telehealth services, equipping first responders with life-saving information. As 5G tools improve bandwidth and reduce delays, new applications, like portable sensors, "wearables," and unmanned systems, will become more commonplace. Thanks to the work of many talented individuals at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and the Raspet Flight Laboratory at Mississippi State University, these sci-fi predictions of the future are quickly becoming a reality.


SPORTS
 
Reggie Perry, Q Weatherspoon power No. 22 Mississippi State past Ole Miss
Freshman Reggie Perry is finding his comfort level playing basketball in the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State men's basketball coach Ben Howland and Perry's teammates have been waiting patiently for that to happen. Perry scored a career-high 21 points and had 11 rebounds to help No. 22 MSU beat Ole Miss 81-75 in Southeastern Conference game at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. "He just has a lot of confidence," MSU senior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon said. "I trust in him to do anything on a basketball court. We know the type of player he is becoming. He can get those numbers any night." Mired in its most difficult stretch of the season, the Bulldogs grabbed their first conference road win to move to 16-5 and 4-4 in the league. Losers of five of six, Ole Miss fell to 14-7 and 4-4. The Bulldogs won for the first time in the Rebels' new arena and for the first time in Oxford since 2011.
 
Bulldogs make the best of second chance
No. 22 Mississippi State went into The Pavilion at Ole Miss on Saturday with a second chance to beat the Rebels. And with second chance after second chance -- and sometimes third chances -- the Bulldogs defeated the Rebels 81-75 before 9,500 fans. Ole Miss, after a 4-0 SEC start and an appearance in the rankings, lost for the fifth time in six games. The Bulldogs dominated the glass with a plus-12 rebounding edge. They were lethal on the offensive end with 15 rebounds leading to 19 second-chance points. The Rebels (14-7, 4-4 SEC) shot 52.4 percent from 3-point range, but misses were critical. Ole Miss had just six offensive rebounds.
 
Vet and Rookie: Weatherspoon, Perry lead Bulldogs to victory over Rebels
Quinndary Weatherspoon has been the heartbeat of Mississippi State's basketball team the last four years. Reggie Perry is a promising freshman on the rise. Weatherspoon will soon be a part of MSU's past while Perry is set for a promising future. The two combined to make sure the present was enjoyable for the Bulldogs on Saturday. Weatherspoon and Perry combined to score 48 points as No. 22 Mississippi State went on the road and topped instate rival Ole Miss 81-75. "(Weatherspoon) was absolutely fantastic," Howland said. "I thought Reggie was phenomenal." "This was a huge win for us." Weatherspoon tied a season high as he led the Bulldogs with 27 points. Perry scored a career high 21 points and notched his third career double-double by bringing down 11 rebounds. The performances of Weatherspoon and Perry pushed the Bulldogs back to .500 in Southeastern Conference play as MSU improved to 16-5 overall and 4-4 in the league. Ole Miss fell to 14-7 and 4-4.
 
Mississippi State takes down Ole Miss in SEC basketball rematch
Back in January, Ole Miss took down Mississippi State in Starkville. On Saturday, it was the Bulldogs' turn to return the favor in Oxford. No. 22 Mississippi State defeated Ole Miss 81-75 at The Pavilion on Saturday in a game where offensive rebounds and second-chance points made the difference. With the win, Mississippi State improves to 16-5 on the season and 4-4 in SEC play, while Ole Miss drops to 14-7, 4-4 SEC. Ole Miss and Mississippi State have split the 2018-19 season series after the Rebels beat the Bulldogs in Starkville on Jan. 12. Ole Miss has lost four games in a row and five out of six contests since last beating Mississippi State. Offensive rebounds and second-chance points were the story of the game for Mississippi State, as the Bulldogs out-paced the Rebels 15-6 on the offensive glass and 19-6 in second-chance points. "After taking a loss, we wanted to come in more physical and probably play a little bit harder," Mississippi State freshman forward Reggie Perry said. "That's what we did. We out-physicaled them and we played harder than them."
 
Rebounding dooms Ole Miss in loss to Mississippi State
Late game offensive struggles and an afternoon of getting pulverized on the glass led to Ole Miss' demise in round two of the cross-state rivalry. Despite leading the Bulldogs by four at the half, Ole Miss would lose to No. 22 Mississippi State 81-75 on Saturday. "They out-toughed us from the start," said Ole Miss head coach Kermit Davis. "I'm trying to coach effort in a rivalry game in front of a sold-out arena and that's inexcusable. That's what I was trying to do. We did some good things. We had a chance to win the game, but eventually toughness won out." The first half of play was characterized by two big runs, one on either side. Trailing 15-8 early, a Breein Tyree steal and transition three sparked a 13-0 Ole Miss run mid-way through the half, bringing the Rebel lead to 21-15. It would be subsequently followed by a 12-2 Bulldog run. The game would go to half relatively even, Rebels leading 43-39.
 
Youth movement pays dividends for Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss
Mississippi State men's basketball coach Ben Howland is well aware of the youth movement going on with his basketball team. Reggie Perry and Robert Woodard II acquitted themselves well again in No. 22 MSU's 81-75 victory against Ole Miss on Saturday at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. "The minutes by the freshmen were huge," Howland said. "They are coming into their own as valuable contributors in the Southeastern Conference." MSU improved to 16-5 and 4-4 in league play, while Ole Miss fell to 14-7 and 4-4. "A huge win for our basketball team, our best win of the year," Howland said. "It's a big win in the NET (entering the game MSU was No. 27 and Ole Miss was No. 38). Ole Miss has a great basketball game. We defended more aggressively and really made some big shots." The Bulldogs had two changes to the starting lineup, with Perry earning his fifth career start in place of Aric Holman. Tyson Carter replaced Nick Weatherspoon, who was injured Tuesday in a loss at Alabama.
 
Notebook: Bulldog freshmen flourish in Oxford
Reggie Perry and Robert Woodard II have been productive for No. 22 Mississippi State all season. But in Saturday's 81-75 win over Ole Miss, both freshmen were special. Perry and Woodard combined for 30 points and 14 rebounds, the most production they have had in the same game. "We're excited about those two freshmen," said MSU coach Ben Howland. "They're pretty darn good." Perry provided the most damage with a career-high 21 points and 11 rebounds in his fifth start. The 6-foot-10, 245-pounder was 6 of 15 from the field, 2 of 2 from 3-point range, grabbed seven offensive boards and played a personal-best 34 minutes. "The freshman Reggie Perry was like a man among boys," said Ole Miss coach Kermit Davis. Perry has scored in double figures in each of the past three games and is averaging 16.3 points and 9.7 rebounds over that stretch.
 
Reggie Perry was 'a man among boys' in Mississippi State's win over Ole Miss
A man among boys. It's hard for a freshman in college basketball to be labeled that unless he wears a blue jersey that says 'Duke' across the front. Mississippi State freshman forward Reggie Perry transcended that level Saturday against Ole Miss. Rebels head coach Kermit Davis gave Perry the moniker after he totaled 21 points and 11 rebounds in No. 21 Mississippi State's 81-75 victory. Perry was destined for a career-best outing from well before tip-off. Mississippi State head coach Ben Howland told his freshman forward Friday evening that he would be starting in senior Aric Holman's place the next day. He could've cowered and shrunk on a bitter rival's court in a game both teams needed to win badly. He didn't. Perry scored 12 points in the first half and got to the line for eight free throws. He made six of them. Davis said the game came down to which team would dedicate itself to being tougher, and with the help of Perry it was Mississippi State.
 
Super Sunday: Another solid effort on defensive end helps Bulldogs get win over Tide
Since giving up 74 points against South Carolina nearly a month ago, Mississippi State's defense has been feisty with four-straight opponents held under 50 points. That trend continued on the road against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday afternoon, but the No. 6 Bulldogs also continued a downward offensive trend. Recently leading the nation offensively at 90 points a game, MSU scored under 70 points for the second-straight game, but it was plenty enough for a comfortable 65-49 win. There were negatives to take away from the game on Sunday, but it was a win for head coach Vic Schaefer and his Bulldogs, and with the way that they did it on the defensive end, he was pleased. "I'm awfully proud of my team," Schaefer said. "I thought we were really special defensively. I was really proud of us defensively. (Only giving up) 49 points is hard to do in this league. Our kids showed a little toughness today. I'm proud of them for that. I'm proud to get out with a victory."
 
Without its A-game, Mississippi State still tops Alabama on the road
Mississippi State didn't have its A-game against Alabama on Sunday afternoon, but the Bulldogs still coasted to a 65-49 victory in Tuscaloosa. Any road win in the Southeastern Conference is a good one, but a team that has national title aspirations like No. 6 Mississippi State (21-1, 9-0 SEC) can't be too happy with the way it played. The Bulldogs had uncharacteristic issues, particularly on the offensive end. For only the fourth time this season, Mississippi State had more turnovers (17) than assists (5). That turnover-to-assist ratio is the worst Mississippi State has had all season. "We got to be better than that," head coach Vic Schaefer said. "A lot of our turnovers, I'm trying to run something and they're just stubborn. We're just stubborn sometimes... We got to get back to doing better things offensively."
 
Spencer Price returns to bolster Bulldogs' bullpen
A year ago, Mississippi State was reeling from the announcement that closer Spencer Price would miss the whole season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. But now Price is fully cleared and ready to help the Bulldogs at the back end of their bullpen. "I've been dreaming of getting back on this field with my teammates and being able to contribute," Price said. "I've just blessed to have this opportunity to get back out here and I'm ready to get it rolling." Although Price expects to be ready to go when MSU opens the season against Youngstown State on Feb. 15, first-year head coach Chris Lemonis will be conservative with how he uses his closer early on. "We'll probably be a little cautious with him [early in the year]," Lemonis said. "I know he's an ultra-competitor and a bull when he's out there."
 
Inside the Dugout: Biggest storyline for Bulldog bullpen may be health of Price
Opening Day at Dudy Noble Field is nearly here. On Friday, February 15, Mississippi State begins the 2019 baseball season with a 4 p.m. game against Youngstown State. That's when new head coach Chris Lemonis and the Bulldogs begin their trek to try and return to Omaha, Nebraska, and the College World Series for what would be the 11th time in program history. Over the upcoming days, the Starkville Daily News will take a look at different components of the 2019 Diamond Dogs leading into the new year of baseball. Today, the SDN Inside the Dugout series begins by looking at things to know about the Bulldog bullpen.
 
Mississippi State unveils pricing plans for Left Field Lounge, Rooftop Club
The Mississippi State Bulldog Club is offering group pricing for The Rooftop Club, along with weekend and midweek rental packages for the Left Field Lofts. Single-game, weekend, and group pricing and availability are for the regular season schedule and subject to change for postseason events at Dudy Noble Field. Fans can enjoy unequalled college baseball luxury by purchasing a full season, weekend, or weekday stay in the Left Field Lofts. Overlooking the historic Left Field Lounge, these two-bedroom, two-bathroom units are everything you need to create the ultimate MSU baseball experience. MSU will play host to Youngstown State at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, to open the 2019 season. MSU will play 36 home games, including eight weekend series and 12 midweek games. For more information, or to reserve your group event or Left Field Loft space, contact the Bulldog Club at 662-325-3074, or via e-mail at bulldogsuites@athletics.msstate.edu.
 
Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Alabama softball teams have packed TV schedules
The Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Alabama softball teams will be featured this season in ESPN's coverage of Southeastern Conference softball. Along with the seven national television appearances, MSU will air each of its home non-linear games on SEC Network+, which is available online and through WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app. Streaming information for remaining road games will be announced at a later date. The national audience will get its first look at MSU in back-to-back road game March 16 and 17 at Kentucky. MSU will be featured five times in April, beginning April 6-7 against LSU in Starkville. The second and third games of the series will air on ESPNU. On Easter weekend, MSU will play host to Ole Miss for a three-game series. The squads will square off on the SEC Network on Friday, April 19. MSU will round out its home television slate against Missouri on April 27-28. Those games will appear on the SEC Network.
 
Scott Walters named sports editor at The Dispatch
Scott Walters has been named sports editor for The Dispatch. He will assume the role starting Monday, replacing Adam Minichino, who has served as sports editor for more than 10 years. Walters first joined The Dispatch staff in August 2011 and has covered predominantly high school sports and East Mississippi Community College football during his tenure. "Journalism has been a rewarding part of my life for parts of four decades now," Walters said. A Laurel native, Walters earned a communications degree in 1993 from Mississippi State University.
 
SEC distributes $43.1 million to each school for 2017-18 fiscal year
The SEC on Friday announced its revenue distribution for the 2017-18 fiscal year, which ended on Aug. 31. The conference's payout includes a total of $604.1 million generated by the league, plus $23 million for bowl game travel and expenses. That accounts for a total of $43.1 million distributed to each of the 14 member schools. "This distribution of revenue to the SEC's member institutions represents a continued conference-wide commitment to support of our student-athletes in all areas of their college experience," SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said. "This revenue is essential in providing outstanding support for all of the young people on our campuses through coaching, equipment, training, academic counseling, medical care and life-skills development." SEC revenues were up this past year. The league distributed a total of $596.9 for 2016-17, $40.9 for each school.
 
UF's cut from SEC revenue distribution is about $43 million
The SEC announced $627.1 million in revenue distribution in 2017-18, with Florida's take as one of 14 league members is about $43.1 million. The total includes $604.1 million distributed from the conference office, as well as $23.0 million retained by institutions that participated in 2017-18 football bowl games to offset travel and other related bowl expenses. The average amount distributed from the conference office, excluding bowl money retained by participants, was slightly over $43.1 million per school. Currently more than 5,400 female and male student-athletes across the SEC receive financial aid and, counting non-scholarship participants, more than 7,800 total student-athletes participate in sports sponsored by SEC institutions. The 2017-18 academic year was the third in which SEC schools funded costs associated with providing scholarships based on a student-athlete's full cost of attendance. In addition, each SEC university utilizes a portion of the revenues to fund a wide range of academic and campus improvement initiatives, including academic scholarships, endowed faculty positions, student wellness programs, research programs, and forward-looking building projects.
 
South Carolina got a check for how many million dollars from the SEC this year?
South Carolina, and every other Southeastern Conference team, received $40 million from the league as part of its annual distribution for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The numbers were released by the SEC on Friday. The league divided a total of $627.1 million among its schools, $604.1 million from the conference office plus $23 million retained by schools from their bowl games. "This distribution of revenue to the SEC's member institutions represents a continued conference-wide commitment to support of our student-athletes in all areas of their college experience," SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said. "This revenue is essential in providing outstanding support for all of the young people on our campuses through coaching, equipment, training, academic counseling, medical care and life-skills development." The money comes chiefly from television agreements, post-season bowl games, the College Football Playoff, the SEC football championship game, the SEC men's basketball tournament, NCAA Championships and a supplemental surplus distribution.
 
Instant replays can affect fans' brand attitude, says UGA researchers
The result of football instant replay video reviews can alter a consumer's perception of a brand, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. A pair of Grady College researchers have linked the outcomes of those football replay reviews to consumers having a positive perception of a brand. Jihoon "Jay" Kim, a doctoral student at Grady College, and Jooyoung Kim, an associate professor of advertising, investigated how the use of advertising in sporting events' replay review affected consumer feelings toward sponsored brands. "I watched a tennis game one day and saw the replay system," Jay Kim said. "While the video was reviewed live, I saw a brand logo on the screen and thought it was interesting because two groups of fans were watching it; the result of the replay video would make one group happy and the other group unhappy." To untap this psychological phenomenon, they researched the concept of "schadenfreude."
 
Mississippi's first mobile sports betting app launched
Pearl River Resort and Bok Homa Casinos launched its new mobile app, called PRR Sport. "Most exciting thing that is happening, we premiered today around 10:00 is our first in the state and first in Indian country is our mobile sports betting app. It's something the entire team came together and we're exceptionally proud of," says Director of Gaming Operations Neal Atkinson. The new mobile sports betting app will allow guests to place bets from anywhere on the Bok Homa and Pearl River properties. "This morning, since 10:00 we have had over 500 accounts created and it's become very very popular because it allows you to skip those lines and allows you to enjoy the game from your room, one of our wonderful restaurants, the bar, the poker table and even this summer beside the pool," says Atkinson.
 
Politics and the suite life for Saints playoffs? Insiders got wish granted by Gov. Edwards
It was the hottest Superdome ticket in 10 years: Saints vs. Rams, with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl. Every Saints fan wanted to be at the Jan. 20 playoff game. And a select group of elected officials and political insiders got their wishes realized, for free, in the governor's state-provided suite. The governor gets the free use of two suites for all events at the state-owned Mercedes-Benz Superdome under a longtime practice well-known to the politically connected. "It's a special invitation," said Andy Kopplin, who served as chief of staff to two governors, Mike Foster and Kathleen Blanco. "For the governor, it's like hosting a party. It's work." Edwin Edwards, who served four terms as governor, said he is glad to be able to concentrate on the game now instead of having to tend to his guests.
 
Ahead of Super Bowl, Trump Raises Doubts on Tackle Football for His Son
Hours before the sport's biggest game, President Trump joined the growing ranks of parents anxious over tackle football, saying in an interview he "would have a hard time" letting his 12-year-old son play. "I mean, it's a dangerous sport and I think it's, I, it's really tough" if his son wanted to take up the game, Mr. Trump said in an interview with CBS ahead of its Sunday evening broadcast of the Super Bowl. The president's concerns are at odds with his previous criticism that the N.F.L. has been making the game too soft to avoid concussions and other injuries, and suggest that he is struggling with many of the same questions that parents across the country are asking about the safety of youth tackle football. Mr. Trump said he would ultimately let his youngest son, Barron, who plays soccer, decide if he wanted to play tackle football and would not steer him away from the sport. But the president said he had seen reports about the dangers of playing tackle football, and heard that some N.F.L. players were not letting their sons play tackle football. His comments added another wrinkle to his ambivalent relationship with the game he often celebrates, but also laments.



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